24 July 2008

RANGERS manager Walter Smith has opened talks with Portsmouth over a possible swoop for Portuguese playmaker Pedro Mendes.

Record Sport can reveal Smith has held preliminary discussions with Fratton Park boss Harry Redknapp to find out exactly how much it would cost to take the 29-year-old to Ibrox.

It's believed Redknapp is willing to do business for a player who has fallen out of his first-team plans and would expect a fee of around £2.5million. That falls within Smith's budget but Mendes' massive Pompey pay packet could yet see Rangers struggle to do a deal.

It's understood the ex-Porto and Spurs player is currently taking home £32,000 a week and Smith is unlikely to be able to match those kind of personal terms. Source - Daily Record